Lyme, Bartonella, or Arthritis? joint pain :(

Hello Everyone, I am turning here for advice on issues I have been having. A little over a year ago I was diagnosed with Lyme and then Bartonella a few months later. Been on antibiotics for a year and recently been on Rifabutin and Biaxin (after being on Rifabutin and Minocyclin for some time) and that helps the most. But over the past few months I have developed joint pain (symmetrical on both sides of the body) along with stiffness. It is in my hands, and fingers, wrists, ankles, knees (esp when I get up after sitting), and elbows. The elbows are the weirdest, when I touch the inside of them its painful, when I pick up anything it hurts through both elbows, they pop when I move them back and forth, and this has just gotten worse over time.

My aunt has RA so I scheduled an apt with a rheumatologist. They told me there was no visible symptoms of inflammation, did about 1000 dollars (with insurance ) of bloodwork that came up with nothing besides my white blood cell being a little high. They gave me 60 tablets of 75 mg diclonofec sodium and that is the ONLY thing that helps. If I don't take it one day like I skipped last night it makes daily tasks (such as typing and writing) very hard. The stiffness is worst at night when I am not moving and I wake up with my hands bent and stiff and it is very painful to straighten them out esp when I have had no pain meds.

My Lyme doctor told me that it could possibly be the bartonella or lyme (she is thinking bart) but added ceftin for now to see if the arthritis issues are lyme related but yet nothing better after about 2 weeks. She said after 6 weeks if no better she wanted to try Levaquin (I think that's the name) for bartonella, but that scares me based on what I read.

I don't know what to do but I am tired of feeling like an old lady, not able to lift things, type, etc. Please help

Well she said give the ceftin 6 weeks, does what I describe sound like either the lyme or bart even though I have been on antibiotics for over a year and other symptoms are decreasing?

yeah I realize that now... what dose of magnesium should I be taking now, I take it at night before bed but don't know how much and how long before or after I should take my antibiotics.

Well I am on Adderall and Prozac which Adderall makes me dehydrated and everything I read online is stating that taking Adderall or Prozac with Levaquin is a NO NO.

ok thanks.. this is just getting so frustrating. today i have been in so much pain especially my elbows and hands, and yes when i am home i complain about the pain esp when i have to get up to do something that my boyfriend could just as easily do. Today he basically snapped and told me he is sick and tired of hearing me complain that im in pain and that it is getting old. That i am like an 80 year old woman who will die early because i dont get any exercise (currently i dont do much just because of the pain and how it wears me out and i tried to explain to him about no exercising on the new medicine and he said it was just an excuse to be lazy.

Day in and day out he tells me to stop complaning and that its all i talk about, and how the more time he spends with me the more he cant stand me now.. I don't know what to do i feel so alone maybe i am complaining too much?

saozemko - I'm sorry that your boyfriend isn't being understanding.
I think he went a bit too far....no reason for that.

It's something we see on this forum a lot. The significant 'others' don't understand what we're going through...

You don't 'get it' until you get it.

What I try to do is say how I'm feeling but without a complaining tone...so he still knows how I'm feeling that day.
I also tell him when I'm feeling good...we can't forget that. When we do have a moment where the pain has subsided...or we aren't as fatigued...etc..it's good to express that as well.
And when he does do something - like make dinner...etc...showing appreciation goes a long way.

I think it's hard for them to see us like that...they are worried about us.